Coral Reef CP Dinner

[TeenaS]

We had a disappointing experience Saturday night (12/13) at Coral Reef. You could not order off the menu - - they had a special menu printed with no prices on it "For our Candlelight Processional Guests". It included a "starter" which only had a choice of a soup or salad, one entree (from a list of about 7) and one dessert and they only had a choice of two desserts: eggnog cheesecake and winterberry cobbler. I feel the whole candlelight processional dinner was entirely misrepresented!!

 

[lil red in tx]

Oh no!! We were planning on doing the Coral Reef for next year's CP, but we may have to rethink this...we were really looking forward to the lobster bisque and the chocolate wave for dessert. Can you remember what they offered for the entrees? And does anyone know if this is normal for the CP dinners; do they offer a different menu for these dinners? Thanks for any help you can give!

 

[TeenaS]

The menu was entitled something like "For our Candlelight Processional Guests". There were no prices. Two salads and one soup was the "starter choice". And definitely only two desserts as I mentioned above. The entrees were (as best as I remember): Salmon (but not stuffed); grilled shrimp; a bouilbase combination that the waitress says nobody likes and that they get a lot of complaints about because it is too bland; a steak; a chicken dish; and talipia (spelling? a real light fish). My daughter (age 22) had the talipia and loved it - said it was wonderful. I had the steak and it was very good. Hubby had the salmon and liked it. None of the desserts we were offered were on the normal menu that was posted outside.

If they were going to have a special menu for candlelight guests, then that should have been stated. It was definitely not worth the money! We would have been happier somewhere that we could order off the normal menu. I understand you can't have lobster or maybe filet mignon but at least tell us if we are getting a special menu when we book the package!!!

 

[DisneyKidds]

And does anyone know if this is normal for the CP dinners; do they offer a different menu for these dinners?

It appears different restaurants are all over the place on these packages....................but Coral Reef sounds like the worst so far.

As for our experiences..........................

Le Cellier has been great for years. You order off the full menu (this year no lobster but that is ok), they gave our daughter a soup, they don't charge for extra non-alcoholic drinks (ie - we both got sada and coffee and they didn't charge for the milk and juice we got for our 2 yo), any desserts you want......................and the food and service is excellent.

Last year San Angel Inn was a disappointment. They charged for extra drinks (which is ok)...............but worst of all they gave no choice for dessert - you got flan.

Alfredo's was a disappointment this year as well. We were told that it was just soup or salad. I had to challenge the waiter to get the fettuchini as an appetizer and my DW hates when I rock the boat. They also limited the kids choices to the point where you lose money on the $10.99 they pay. No soup or anything, kids entree, and ice cream for dessert. I have seen other reports that people got whatever appetizer they wanted at Alfredo's, so it could be a waiter by waiter kind of thing.

 

[Lesley]

Sorry to hear your meal was a disappointment. Honestly its hard to get your money's worth off the regular menu at most places with the package....last year it was the shopping discount that convinced us to go for it. This year I heard there was to be no discount so we didn't even consider it.

I will admit, we did do well at both Le Cellier and Teppanyaki last year....because we liked the most expensive items on the menu and we actually saved a few $ (which was offset by the amount we overpaid for the kids' meals.....) We were able to order off the regular menu. I think we probably saved just a little bit in the long run when we add in the shopping we did at a discount...but not much. And it was nice taking my parents to Le Cellier and seeing them order expensive items....they usually order the cheapest things on a restaurants' menu but since I told them we had prepaid and they could order whatever they liked (and we certainly did the same!) they went ahead and did so. All of the kids' packages are overpriced....but you can't opt out and just buy the kids meal...if you're on the package you have to all be on the package. Both places were just the normal kids meals off the menu. So unless you're getting the kids steak at Le Cellier, you're paying twice what they normally cost.

We've only been to the Coral Reef once...a very long time ago...and were disappointed. We've been hesitant to go again. And I certainly wouldn't go for the CP dinner package after seeing this!

 

[lil red in tx]

Thanks everybody for all the good info and advice! There's no (little) kids in our group, and we're all leaning towards Le Cellier now at this point...DS (14) fell in love with the salmon and cheese soup at Canada a couple of years ago when we were at the FWF. It's really a shame that Disney isn't letting people know in advance that they'll have to order from a "special" menu for the CP. Thanks again!

 

[cruiserkelli]

Just returned from WDW. Had tickets for the CP with PS at the Coral Reef on 12/12. Was told when we purchased the package that dinner at the Coral Reef was "anything but lobster". Sounded fair to me. The cost of $41 and change seemed reasonable to me (had eaten at the Reef years ago and remembered the food was great but pricey). We were never told that it would be a "special" Candlelight Processional menu....kind of like the tourist menus when you travel overseas. This was a very limited menu and it certainly didn't include any of the highlights of the Coral Reef regular menu.
I was very excited as I had been to the Coral Reef a couple of times in the past (maybe 6-8 yrs ago) and couldn't wait to take my new hubby there. We were a party of 6 family members altogether and the cost for me was over $240. The choices weren't all that great. My husband ordered the strip steak and while it was a nice size steak; they didn't prepare it properly. He ordered it well done (no pink). It came out medium-rare to rare (red). We sent it back. He got it back and it was now medium to medium-rare (pink). He was so disgusted he didn't even eat it. He basically threw away $42.00. It took forever for our food to come out (well over an hour) and they had the audacity to say it was because he ordered his steak well-done! We ended up missing the processional and it was just a very disappointing night.
MORAL OF THE STORY: Don't buy the pre-packaged dinners....go on your own; order from the regular menu and maybe get a better meal. I just wish I knew that ahead of time so we could have saved the aggravation. I feel we were mislead by the cast member at the AKL who sold us the package. Oh well, live and learn. Kelli

 

[DVC~OKW~96]

No. Live and learn, yes, but don't forget the written objections to WDW. The managment must be fully informed of the shortcomings of this package. That someone missed the processional because a WDW kitchen could not handle a guest's request for cooking a steak is not acceptable.

Do not let it go unremarked.

 

[MaryKatesMom]

We did CP at Le Cellier and were allowed to pick right off the Menu. I specifically asked that because DH loves the cheese soup and I loved the salmon sampler appetizer. The salmon sampler appetizer is no longer on the menue so I tried the salmon cakes which tasted I would reccomend avoiding.

My steak however was the tenderloin over the mushroom rissotto. Absolutely fabulous!!!

My husband had the strip steak which was too big for him to finish.

The problem is of course we WAAAAAY overpay for our DD's 6 and 4. DD6 is such a small eater they could share a happy meal with leftovers.

I knew that going in, but I also know my personality. The extra money spent was only to ease my mind. I can get anxious about being on time and I know that my DD's would not be able to handle waiting for however long to assure us a seat. I didn't want to worry so I paid extra and DH knew that and thought easing my mind on vacation was well worth the extra price.